Chrysanthemum plant named Solo

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Solo particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6 cm. at maturity; uniform seven week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; spreading branching pattern; tolerance of both low winter 12° C. to 14° C. and high summer 23° C. to 38° C. temperatures for bud initiation and flower development; and golden yellow, pollen-producing disc florets.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat.,previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Solo.

Solo is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched spray pot mumprograms having daisy capitulum type, white ray floret color, eight weekflowering response and the ability to produce commercially acceptablequality in year around programs. Such traits in combination were notpresent or required improvements in previously available commercialcultivars.

Solo, identified as 82005018, was originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1981. The femaleparent, identified as 79F54008, was the progeny of Pert, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,764, as female parent and an unnamed seedling asmale parent, both originated by the present inventor. The male parent ofSolo, identified as 79P73001, was originated from a cross between twounnamed seedlings.

Solo was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in September of 1982in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Solo was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December of1982 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated April1983 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Solo are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Solo has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif.and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Solo which in combination distinguish thisChrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) White ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6 cm. atmaturity.

(5) Uniform seven week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height, requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days, and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, the first at 14,the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain aflowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots.

(7) Spreading branching pattern.

(8) Tolerance of low winter 12° C. to 14° C. temperatures.

(9) Tolerance of high summer 23° C. to 38° C. temperatures.

(10) Golden yellow pollen-producing disc florets.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf andinflorescence characteristics of Solo.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of a plant of Solo grown as a pinched,spray pot mum, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditionsof this type.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Solo.

Sheet 3 shows the upper and under surface of the leaves of Solo in threestages of growth (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor the mostsimilar in comparison to Solo is Garland, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,576. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Solo to those same characteristics of Garland.Similar traits are type, form and color. Solo has lighter and smallerfoliage, shorter, more spreading plant habit, more abundant pollenproduction, faster response time, smaller capitulum diameter, shorterray floret length, and its tolerance of both high and low temperaturesresults in more rapid response and shorter crop time.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 3:00 and 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 27, 1984 under 380 foot-candle lightintensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat., cv Solo.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--5 to 6 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--155B.

Color (under surface).--155B.

Shape.--Short, broad, with rounded tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--154A.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; abundant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--138A.

Color (under surface).--138B.

Shape.--Moderately lobed. Small with broadly dented serration.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF SOLO AND GARLAND                                                ______________________________________                                                             CAPITULUM                                                         RAY FLORET  FORM AND    BRANCHING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE        PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        SOLO     WHITE       FLAT        SPREADING                                                         DAISY                                                    GARLAND  WHITE       FLAT        SEMI                                                              DAISY       UPRIGHT                                      ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER             FLOW-                                                    ACROSS               ERING  TEMPER-                                           FACE OF              RE-    ATURE                                             CAPIT-     PLANT     SPONSE TOLER-                                   CULTIVAR ULUM       HEIGHT    PERIOD ANCE                                     ______________________________________                                        SOLO     5 to 6 cm. MEDIUM    SEVEN  LOW:                                                                   WEEKS  12° C. to                                                              14° C.                                                                 HIGH:                                                                         23° C. to                                                              38° C.                            GARLAND  7 to 9 cm. TALL      NINE   LOW:                                                                   WEEKS  13° C. to                                                              14° C.                                                                 HIGH:                                                                         18° C. to                                                              22° C.                            ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED, SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS,                                           CALIFORNIA AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA                                

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dentrenthema morifolium,Ramat., named Solo, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameteracross face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6 cm. at maturity; uniformseven week flowering response; medium plant height; spreading branchingpattern; tolerance of both low winter 12° C. to 14° C. and high summer23° C. to 38° C. temperatures for bud initiation and flower development;and golden yellow pollen-producing disc florets.